DIMAPUR, APRIL 3 (MExN): Several organisations, including the PAPO, ARPO, PGA, Meluri District GBs Union, MAPO, and PPO, among others have jointly submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Meluri calling for “immediate intervention” into the violent firing incident that occurred on March 28.
In the early morning hours of that day, at approximately 5:20 a.m., “armed miscreants of Mimi circle along with their leaders came with automatic and semi-automatic weapons, threaten and chased away the villagers/labourers of SCitsii and Laruri who were camped in the worksite for collection of timber and Pine root,” the memo stated.
According to the memorandum, as the labourers and villagers fled the site and made their way toward their respective villages, they were ambushed near Tizii Bridge, where the assailants “started firing indiscriminately at them… causing injury and damaged to the vehicle they were travelling with.”
Four individuals were injured in the incident, including 29-year-old Ngutsa Thiiviiri of Slitsii Village, who “sustained bullet injury on the head and still battling for live in ICU.” Others injured included Ayowtsa, 18, of Laruri Village, who was “shot on the arm,” and Yowzingmong, 24, also of Laruri, who was “shot on the leg.” Another individual, Atsathvei Leyri, 31, of Slitsii, was “manhandled and brutally beaten.” The memorandum also noted that one of the victims had his personal belongings, including gadgets and cash, seized, and was “assaulted with rifle butt.”
The signatory organisations condemned the act, calling it a “heinous crime upon the innocent public,” and urged authorities to step in to “settle the long pending land dispute amicably.” They further demanded that “the culprits be booked and punish under relevant section of law along with the seizure of arms used during the incident.”
